These classics demand an icon, and that’s obviously a Gin and Tonic (and we have all the tips to perfect it, too).
“A martini. Shaken, not stirred”, “Careful, man, there's a beverage here!”, “I’d like a cheeseburger, please, a large fries and a Cosmopolitan”, and “I've got two of those pre-mixed Gin and Tonics in a tin”. Drinks have been a main character in film and TV for as long as anyone can remember (and we reckon you could name each of those references, too). And when it comes to gin, it’s been the drink du jour in movies like A Simple Favour, Casablanca, The Great Gatsby and plenty of Bond films. But the Gin and Tonic? Everyone’s favourite two-ingredient classic has been the protagonist for spies, awkward 30-somethings, misled holidaymakers and bootleggers alike.
Much like those on-screen mentions, the G&T is a work of art – not to mention the easiest and fastest drink to whip up – but there are a few things that take the humble Gin and Tonic from good to great. That’s quality gin and quality tonic (good glassware doesn’t hurt, either). We’re here to help you level up your G&T game, starting with a recipe that’s impossible to mess up and ending with a night in, sipping a G&T on the couch with some gin-inspired viewing to match.
Now that we’re working with a quality gin, it would be a shame to dim its flavour with a less-than-premium tonic. Good tonic is crucial because it will impact the aroma, flavour and texture of a G&T – a great tonic will enhance the gin rather than overwhelm it. We love brands like Fever Tree, Strangelove and Capi – these guys just get it. To serve, we’re going with a balloon glass – its wide bowl allows the gin to breathe, and the narrow top keeps those aromas inside the glass (so stick your nose all the way in when taking a whiff).
We can think of nothing better than a night in, sipping on a G&T, and watching a film or TV show where gin is a main character. But first, we need to know how to make the perfect Bombay Sapphire and Tonic.
Bombay Sapphire and Tonic ingredients
50mL Bombay Sapphire Gin 100mL premium tonic water Garnish: lime wedge Glass: balloon
Method
Fill your glass with large ice cubes (if you don’t have a balloon glass, you can use a highball) Pour your Bombay Sapphire into the glass, squeeze the juice from your lime wedge into the drink and drop it in Top with premium tonic water and gently stir
1. Dr. No
Let’s go back to 1958, specifically to Ian Fleming’s novel Dr. No, where James Bond (AKA Mr Shaken not Stirred) ordered a double G&T. Not to do anything by halves, he ordered his drink with a whole lime, which he cut in half, squeezed into his Gin and Tonic and dropped into the glass. It’s now affectionately called the James Bond Gin and Tonic. And while Bond ordered a Vesper Martini (which calls for gin and vodka) in Casino Royale, gin doesn’t really appear until Dr. No. Now, for some reason the Gin and Tonic doesn’t appear in Dr. No the film – a travesty in our opinion – but just know never to judge a book by its movie.
2. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
If you’ve never seen The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, then let us set the scene: British retirees head to India under the guise they’re moving into a recently restored hotel, but the reality is anything but luxe. We won’t give any more away, we’ll just name the iconic line-up: Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and a young Dev Patel. Throughout the film, the G&T acts as an anchor to England among the vibrant and very busy city of Jaipur. But the most iconic scene? It takes place on a rooftop in Udaipur, where Evelyn Greenslade (portrayed by Judi Dench) mistakes a G&T for a thirst-quenching glass of water. Pull up that takeaway menu because we’re ordering in. Indian, obviously. We’ll take an order of pakoras (those perfectly crispy deep-fried fritters), a serve of chicken tikka masala, rice, and both garlic naan and papadums, please. And while you wait for your delivery? Get mixing those G&Ts.
3. Fleabag
Where does Fleabag rank in the greatest TV shows of all time? We’d say pretty high. We follow an unnamed woman (AKA Fleabag) as she navigates love, family, grief (life, really). It’s dark, British comedy at its finest (and breaking the fourth wall doesn't hurt, either). What’s Fleabag’s drink of choice, you ask? Well, it’s a canned G&T, or a “proper drink” as she calls it. You know we’re all about the full experience, which means we couldn’t host a Fleabag watch party without a canned G&T, and, lucky for us, Bombay Sapphire makes a ready-to-crack-open-on-the-couch Gin and Tonic. You can drink it straight from the can, but we recommend it poured over lots of ice with a squeeze of lime. The gin tinnie has everything you love about Bombay Sapphire – its signature vapour-infused London dry gin with just the right amount of tonic. There’s really only one thing missing, and that’s a solid order from your local chippy (Fleabag is set in London, so it just makes sense). We’re talking flake, potato cakes and a lot of chips. The canned G&T is a double serve, each with an ABV of 10%, so the gin will cut right through that batter and oil.
4. The Great Gatsby
Gatsby purists, we know what you’re thinking, and yes, Jay Gatsby is a big fan of the Gin Rickey (gin, fresh lime juice and soda water). The Gin and Tonic dates back to the very early 1800s, while the Gin Rickey came later (it was created by Washington bartender George A. Williamson in 1883). In Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 (perfect adaptation) of The Great Gatsby, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway and Daisy and Tom Buchanan are all drinking G&Ts (when they’re not drinking Champagne, that is). And since the Gin and Tonic walked so the Gin Rickey could run (you could even say they’re cousins), we’re certain that F. Scott Fitzgerald himself wouldn’t mind us sitting up with a G&T in honour of the masterpiece. Dress code? PJs and a string or two of pearls.
